Using Ibaka on Ginobili also boosted OKC

OKLAHOMA CITY — Desperate times called for desperate measures from Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks.

After watching his team struggle defensively in the first two games of the Western Conference finals, Brooks was willing to try almost anything to limit the Spurs’ potent pick-and-roll game.

The switch of Thabo Sefolosha to primary coverage duties on Tony Parker got most of the attention after the game. But a decision to shade Manu Ginobili with big man Serge Ibaka in the pick-and-roll was called an even bigger move by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

The alterations bamboozled the Spurs, who hit only 39.5 percent from the field in a 102-82 loss that was their second-lowest scoring game of the season.

“You can’t have one guy on a great player and just give him the same coverage,” Brooks said. “Our pick-and-roll defense was very good against probably the best pick-and-roll offense. It’s a team defense, and everybody was active and engaged.”

The decision to put guard Russell Westbrook away from Parker enabled him to cheat into passing lanes. That ploy helped account for 14 steals by the Thunder, including six by Sefolosha and four by Westbrook.

That defense appeared to spur a feeding frenzy as they forced the Spurs into 21 turnovers.

“I felt like we were the aggressor last night,” Westbrook said. “We can play off their ball movement and then play off on how we cover them.”

Westbrook was repeatedly isolated in the pick-and-roll in Tuesday’s loss, opening the paint as the Spurs got Parker and Ginobili inside to score practically at will. It helped San Antonio score the most points the Thunder have allowed in a regulation game all season.

But unlike that game, the Thunder vigorously attacked the Spurs’ pick-and-roll in Game 3, often by switching up on defensive schemes.

Brooks’ ploy worked as the Spurs were limited to four points in the paint in the first half.

“That’s what making adjustments in the playoffs is all about,” Westbrook said. “You try to do different things as the playoffs continue. Last night was one of those nights where we tried something, and it worked.”

Brooks’ plans were aided by the fact several Thunder players said their pride was hurt after San Antonio’s big offensive showings in the first two games.

At one point in the first half, Oklahoma City center Kendrick Perkins glared in the direction of TNT’s broadcasters, apparently still seething about some of the comments they made during Game 2.

“We all did,” Sefolosha said. “Coming off the two losses, we knew that they really matched us. We knew we had to play much better in order to win.”

But whether the tweaks will work again will be determined in Game 4 tonight.

“It will be a totally different game, and we know they are going to adjust,” Sefolosha said.